Bimetalllic weapons of Iron Age northwestern Iran

In consequence of a recent trafficking operation stopped by the Border Force in the UK a large number of metal objects from northwestern Iran became available for study, the majority of which can be dated stylistically to Iron Age I and II (ca. 1250-800 BC). Before they are repatriated, a PhD research will be conducted at Cranfield University, jointly funded by ISIS. It will examine the Bronze Age to Iron Age transition in Iran, focusing on the complex metallurgical techniques. Among the objects are multiple examples of bimetallic weapons, cast in bronze with an iron rod that can be seen through the pommel. We propose to investigate how the swords were assembled using neutron imaging, which will allow us to understand the function of the iron element and whether it continues into the blade. Such weapons are an important link between bronze weapons and their later iron counterparts.